Occupancy based lighting control technology and its application thereof

• US 10,438,471 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2019
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chia-Teh Chen
• Original Assignee: Chia-Teh Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Chia-Teh
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US16/395,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20190251813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 165 Days
• Field of Search: 340554, 340540, 340541, 3405453, 340500
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1627 using Doppler shift detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/193 using focusing means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2494 by interference with electro-magnetic field distribution combined with other electrical sensor means, e.g. microwave detectors combined with other sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method of detecting an occupancy state of a living space for controlling an on/off performance of an electrical apparatus. The method comprises using a motion sensor to send wave signal and detect wave signal reflected from a moving human body and using a dual sensitivity detection arrangement including a low sensitivity detection mode and a high sensitivity detection mode respectively performed for identifying the wave signal being a motion signal according to the electrical apparatus being in a turned-off state or in a turned-on state. The dual sensitivity detection arrangement enables the motion sensor to more precisely detect the occupancy state of a living space while minimizing a probability of the electrical apparatus being activated by a noise signal.

Claims

1. A motion sensing security light configured with a dual sensitivity detection capacity, comprising:

a light emitting unit;

a loading and power control unit;

a light sensing control unit;

a motion sensor, configured with a transmitter for transmitting a wave signal, a receiver for receiving the wave signal reflected from a moving object in a detection zone; and

a power supply unit;

wherein the loading and power control unit comprises a controller and a switching circuitry, wherein the switching circuitry comprises at least one semiconductor switching device, wherein the switching circuitry is electrically connected between a power source and the light emitting unit;

wherein the controller is electrically coupled with the at least one semiconductor switching device, the light sensing control unit and the motion sensor, wherein the controller outputs a control signal to control a conduction state of the at least one semiconductor switching device to control an electric power delivered to the light emitting unit for operating an on/off performance of the motion sensing security light;

wherein the controller is designed with a motion signal identification subroutine to determine if the wave signal detected by the motion sensor represents a motion signal, wherein two operating parameters of the wave signal are measured to identify the wave signal being the motion signal, wherein a first operating parameter is a time length of the wave signal, which is required to be equal to or longer than a preset minimum value;

wherein a second operating parameter is a frequency pattern of the wave signal being deviated from the frequency pattern of the wave signal generated by the transmitter within a predetermined range in view of the Doppler Effect for the wave signal reflected from a moving body;

wherein a minimum value of the time length of the wave signal preset determines a setting of a detection sensitivity of the motion sensing security light;

wherein the motion signal identification subroutine comprises the dual sensitivity detection capacity including a low sensitivity detection mode to be performed when the light emitting unit is in a turned-off state and a high sensitivity detection mode to be performed when the light emitting unit is in a turned-on state respectively for identifying the motion signal, wherein the minimum value of the time length of the wave signal preset for operating the low sensitivity detection mode is greater than the minimum value of the time length of the wave signal preset for operating the high sensitivity detection mode;

wherein at dusk when an ambient light detected by the light sensing control unit is lower than a first predetermined value, the controller manages to activate the motion sensor to perform the low sensitivity detection mode to operate a motion detection process, wherein when motion sensor detects the wave signal being identified as the motion signal, the controller operates to output the control signal to conduct the at least one semiconductor switching device to turn on the light emitting unit for a predetermined time duration, at the same time the controller manages to switch to perform the high sensitivity detection mode to continue the motion detection process such that a shortest motion signal can be readily identified by the controller for renewing the predetermined time duration;

wherein upon a maturity of the predetermined time duration with no further motion signal being detected, the light emitting unit is then turned off and the controller manages to switch back to perform the low sensitivity detection mode to continue the motion detection process such that the light emitting unit will not be randomly activated by an error signal;

wherein at dawn when the ambient light detected by the light sensing unit is higher than a second predetermined value, the controller manages to deactivate the motion sensor and the light emitting unit is accordingly turned off.

2. The motion sensing security light according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit comprises an LED lamp.

3. The motion sensing security light according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a microwave motion sensor designed to operate at a frequency equal to or higher than 20 GHz.

4. The motion sensing security light according to claim 1, wherein upon the maturity of the predetermined time duration, the controller manages to turn off the light emitting unit after a predetermined time period.

5. An occupancy detecting method for controlling a turned-on state or a turned-off state of an electrical apparatus in a living space comprising:

using a motion sensor including a transmitter for transmitting a wave signal and a receiver for receiving the wave signal reflected from a moving human body in a detection zone;

using a controller designed with a dual sensitivity detection capacity comprising a low sensitivity detection mode and a high sensitivity detection mode respectively for identifying the wave signal being a motion signal according to a performance status of the electrical apparatus being in a turned-off state or in a turned-on state;

using at least one semiconductor switching device electrically connected between a power source and the electrical apparatus to control an electric power delivered to the electrical apparatus according to a control signal from the controller activated by a detection of the motion signal;

wherein the controller is electrically coupled with the at least one semiconductor switching device and the motion sensor, wherein the controller outputs the control signal to control a conduction state of the at least one semiconductor switching device to control the electric power delivered to the electrical apparatus for operating an on/off performance of the electrical apparatus;

wherein the controller is designed with a motion signal identification subroutine to determine if the wave signal detected by the motion sensor represents a motion signal, wherein two operating parameters of the wave signal are measured to identify the wave signal being the motion signal, wherein a first operating parameter is a time length of the wave signal, which is required to be equal to or longer than a preset minimum value;

wherein a second operating parameter is a frequency pattern of the wave signal, which is required to be deviated from the frequency pattern of the wave signal generated by the transmitter within a predetermined range in view of the Doppler Effect for the wave signal reflected from a moving body;

wherein a minimum value of the time length of the wave signal preset determines a setting of a detection sensitivity of the motion signal identification subroutine;

wherein the motion signal identification subroutine comprises the dual sensitivity detection capacity including a low sensitivity detection mode to be performed when the electrical apparatus is in a turned-off state and a high sensitivity detection mode to be performed when the electrical apparatus is in a turned-on state respectively for identifying the motion signal, wherein the minimum value of the time length of the wave signal preset for operating the low sensitivity detection mode is greater than the minimum value of the time length of the wave signal preset for operating the high sensitivity detection mode;

wherein when the electrical apparatus is in the turn-off state, the controller manages to perform the low sensitivity detection mode, wherein when motion sensor detects the wave signal being identified as the motion signal, the controller operates to output the control signal to conduct the at least one semiconductor switching device to turn on the electrical apparatus for a predetermined time duration, at the same time the controller manages to switch to perform the high sensitivity detection mode to continue the motion detection process such that a shortest motion signal can be readily identified by the controller to continue renewing the predetermined time duration;

wherein upon a maturity of the predetermined time duration with no further motion signal being detected, the electrical apparatus is then turned off and the controller manages to switch back to perform the low sensitivity detection mode to continue the motion detection process such that the electrical apparatus will not be randomly activated by an error signal.

6. The occupancy detecting method according to claim 5, wherein the motion sensor is a microwave motion sensor designed to operate at a frequency equal to or higher than 20 GHz, wherein a microwave confining device is not required.

7. The occupancy detecting method according to claim 5, wherein the motion sensor is an ultrasonic motion sensor.

8. The occupancy detecting method according to claim 5, wherein the electrical apparatus is a lighting apparatus.

9. The occupancy detecting method according to claim 5, wherein the electrical apparatus is a ceiling fan.

10. The occupancy detecting method according to claim 5, wherein the electrical apparatus is an air conditioner.

11. The occupancy detecting method according to claim 5, wherein the electrical apparatus is a radio or a television.